YORK'S amateur rugby league clubs are coming together to play a special charity East v West "State of Origin" match in memory of Stuart Evans.

York Acorn and York Lokomotive will join forces on one side of the river, with Heworth and New Earswick All Blacks doing likewise on the other. Selby Warriors are also set to be represented, in the Heworth and All Blacks camp.

Evans' son Gareth, who followed his dad into refereeing from a young age, is going to be the man in the middle.

It is hoped the occasion might re-energise the York & District ARL, an organisation close to Evans' heart.

Evans, the award-winning match official, rugby league administrator and well-known York City Knights fan and historian, died a fortnight ago, aged 68, after a short illness.

The match, penned in for Tuesday, December 27, with a 1.30pm kick off, on the neutral ground of Clifton Park, home of York RUFC, will raise money for charities to be decided by the Evans family, in honour of Evans and his wife Jackie, who died two years ago.

It has been arranged by Acorn head coach Leigh Paul-Rientoul and team manager Steve Bromwich along with Spen Allison, the British Amateur Rugby League Association president and long-time friend of Evans.

Paul-Rientoul will coach the West Side and Heworth player-boss George Elliott, the former York City Knights and Leeds Rhinos threequarter, will take charge of the East Side.

The teams are likely to have 20-man squads.

Paul-Rientoul said: "I think me and Steve both had the idea pretty much at the same time and I then spoke to Spen, who also wanted to do something special.

"We got together and decided to run it through York & District ARL, which Stuart was a massive part of.

"The response we've had so far has been huge - there was lots of reaction on social media and my phone started going non-stop.

"There could be a massive turnout and, while we're hoping to raise lots of money for charity, it's also about getting York & District ARL back up and running.

"Stuart had always wanted teams in York to get together more and work together for the good of the game across the city.

"It could be the start of something new for us. York & District ARL used to be massive and giving it a big boost is something we want and something Stuart would have wanted."

Anyone wanting further details about the East v West game can phone Paul-Rientoul on 07854 378293, Bromwich on 07766 026536 or Allison on 07748 803589.

Admission is £5 for adults, £2 for under-16s and free for under-5s.

As reported by The Press, Evans' funeral will be at York Crematorium on Friday, December 9, at 1pm, with a wake following at South Bank Working Men's Club.